Artwork: UWM Mixed Media
Title: Constellation Size: 61cm x 64cm x 49cm Medium: Mixed Media Completion: December 2018 Exhibition Text Constellation is an original mixed media sculpture made from store-bought wire and twine, and rocks that I have collected throughout my life. This piece is like a collection of my childhood interests; rocks and stars. My inspiration in creating this piece consists of Tom Friedman's Up in the Air and David Smith's Star Cage. |
Inspiration
The study of stars has always been an interest of mine; but I have always thoroughly enjoyed finding constellations. Of course, it was always hard to see the stars through Milwaukee's smog filled sky, so I had to make my own sky. When I was six years old, I plastered plastic stars to my ceiling, because they fascinated me. I wanted to learn more. Reaching an older age, I had forgotten about my interest, but this piece truly brought me back to my younger ages. The way that the stars cluster together reminded me of a messy constellation, and I wanted to refine it. Getting into my personal connections, I thought about Gemini. I took the chaos of this piece and transferred it into a symbol of my life: chaos. However, I wanted to keep the intimacy of the stars. Smith's piece seemed very jagged, but I wanted mine to be more delicate and organized.
David Smith. Star Cage, 1950.
Painted and brushed steel.
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Painted and brushed steel.
Royal Academy of Arts, London
When looking at Tom Friedman's piece Up in the Air, I think of organized chaos. I was inspired by this piece, because I like the concept of everything being frozen in time. This piece inspired me to hang the rocks, rather than putting it into sculpture form like Smith's Star Cage. The size of the objects and their spacing seem like they are equidistant, despite being scattered about the room. I enjoy the size proportion of each object, and it helped me to vary the sizes of the rocks in my piece. Pieces like this one always seem to come to an agreement, as they seem to have equal weight. In creating my final piece, I strove for that equal weight.
Tom Friedman, Up in the Air, 2009.
Mixed Media. Magasin III, Stockholm, Sweden.
Mixed Media. Magasin III, Stockholm, Sweden.
Planning
To begin my planning, I started off by noting the criteria and objectives needed to complete this project with success. I also noted some well known mixed media artists. Taking thorough notes would help me to gain a better understanding of the project, and help me to create my own ideas.
After viewing art pieces by several artists, I did some of my own research to find pieces that had a stronger effect on me. In doing this, I had found multiple pieces that sparked my inspiration. I was finally able to sketch out my ideas, which had only consisted of the Gemini constellation. I also included a list of the materials that I had planned to use.
This was my final sketch, which consisted of the constellation , and the rocks hanging from the base; representing the stars. The format of my sketch was supposed to be the viewpoint of my piece as it hangs from the ceiling. I found it very easy to sketch out this idea, as it had basically been my only idea.
Process
To start creating the first figure of Gemini, I cut 158 in. of wire, and folded it in half. After folding it in half, I began to twist the ends together until it met the crease so that the wire wouldn't be as loose, and the base would be stronger due to the extra piece of wire.
Once I had twisted the wire together, it was time to mold it into the figure. I used pliers for the twisting and combination of these wires, to ensure that the wires were in place. I began this process all over again for the second figure. The only difference is that I cut 200 in. worth of wire for the second figure, because I knew that it was going to be larger.
Once I had been done creating the second figure, it was time to make the twins one. I connected the longer arm of the second figure to the chest of the first figure by twisting the arm around the chest. This completed my base, and it was time to move onto the tying of twine around the wire base, and the rocks.
Most of the rocks were then connected to the twine with hot glue, but the larger rocks had been connected to the string as I would wrap the string around the rocks and knotting them a couple times, to ensure that they would not slip out. Once each rock had been connected to one end of the string, I would take the other end and tie it to the wire base where the star points were located.
Once my strings and rocks were attached to the wire base, I carefully carried my piece to my bedroom to find a place to install it. Once I found the perfect positioning, I took three command ceiling hooks and placed them on my ceiling where the most weighted parts of my piece would be located. I hung my piece, but I decided that some parts needed more support. To ensure that my piece would not come down, I placed a clear packing tape within each area that had been showing any significant weakness. My piece had been secured on my ceiling.
Experimentation
I had to decide how I was going to connect the rocks to the twine, so for smaller rocks I used a hot glue gun to connect the two endings to one another. As for the bigger rocks, I tied the string around them, because I felt that the glue would not be strong enough. Both of these methods were successful for me.
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Reflecting & Critiquing
Tom Friedman, Up in the Air, 2009.
Mixed Media. Magasin III, Stockholm, Sweden. David Smith. Star Cage, 1950.
Painted and brushed steel. Royal Academy of Arts, London |
Similarities:
Differences:
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This was the first project that I was assigned that allowed me to feel like I was completely in control; there weren't very many instructions. I enjoyed the freedom that was provided, but I also felt like I was slightly lost. It took me a long time to produce an idea that was half-decent. I settled with my last idea, as I was running out of time. This had also been my most meaningful idea out of the couple I had come up with. In creating this piece, I wish I had used a thicker wire, because the wire that I used was thin and slightly flimsy. I also feel like my piece would've looked more advanced if I used fishing line instead of twine, because it would appear as if the rocks were just floating. For the time being, I feel like this project was a success, but I feel like I could make it even better by adding the different materials that I just mentioned.
ACT Connections:
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork:
Both inspiration pieces had great effect in my creating, as I had followed the mixed media process of Up in the Air, and the idea of constellations from Star Cage.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
In regards to the topic of my piece, I generated my own topic. I only used the actual art as inspiration.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered that not all art has inspiration behind it's creation; it can just be based off of what you do on a daily basis without an actual rationale.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
My central idea was based off of the effect that constellations have had on my life; I've always been interested in astronomy, and it's also a symbol of chaos in my life.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I inferred that not every artwork has a deep meaning; it could just be simple and not leave viewers with a sense of wonder.
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork:
Both inspiration pieces had great effect in my creating, as I had followed the mixed media process of Up in the Air, and the idea of constellations from Star Cage.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
In regards to the topic of my piece, I generated my own topic. I only used the actual art as inspiration.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered that not all art has inspiration behind it's creation; it can just be based off of what you do on a daily basis without an actual rationale.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
My central idea was based off of the effect that constellations have had on my life; I've always been interested in astronomy, and it's also a symbol of chaos in my life.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I inferred that not every artwork has a deep meaning; it could just be simple and not leave viewers with a sense of wonder.
Bibliography
“Exhibitions.” Home - Tel Aviv Museum of Art, www.tamuseum.org.il/about-the-exhibition/tom-friedman-up-in-the-air.
“In Past ShowAbstract Expressionism at Royal Academy of Arts.” 11 Artworks, Bio & Shows on Artsy, Artsy, www.artsy.net/artwork/david-smith-star-cage#!
“Up in the Air.” Magasin III, www.magasin3.com/en/artwork/up-in-the-air-2/.
“In Past ShowAbstract Expressionism at Royal Academy of Arts.” 11 Artworks, Bio & Shows on Artsy, Artsy, www.artsy.net/artwork/david-smith-star-cage#!
“Up in the Air.” Magasin III, www.magasin3.com/en/artwork/up-in-the-air-2/.